Close distance passing may be more tolerable for experienced and fully competent cyclists, but it's still unnecessarily risky. And the risks are much higher for

Close distance passing may be more tolerable for experienced and fully competent cyclists, but it's still unnecessarily risky. And the risks are much higher for those with less sure bike handling skills: new and casual riders, and the very young. It's not uncommon to see these kinds of riders wobbling back and forth, "salmoning" their way down the road, obviously lacking good situational awareness. There are just so many reasons why it's a good idea to give cyclists a wide berth, but perhaps they all come down to this: The extra space provides a more adequate margin for error in the event of unforeseen and emergency circumstances, for both driver and cyclist.